Bryan Danielson, as expected, proved to be a huge signing for All Elite Wrestling. It’s only been a few weeks since he joined the promotion and he already has a five-star match under his belt.
He’s one of the best wrestlers of all time and that kind of status always brings a ton of criticism and hot takes from wrestling fans. Even though most would agree with the popular opinion, some had beliefs contrary to the natural inclination. Reddit is one such platform where wrestling fans go to express their opinions, and many of these takes can be considered “unpopular”.
10 The Final Countdown Won’t Fit Him Now
This is somewhat of a mixed opinion because before Danielson's AEW debut, most fans were expecting him to come out to The Final Countdown, a song that he once used in his ring entrance.
But that of course didn’t happen because The Final Countdown was way too pricey for AEW to license. One fan said they are glad Danielson didn’t use this song as it wouldn’t have suited him. At the same time, many would’ve been happy to relive that nostalgic experience once again.
9 The Kenny Omega Match Is Overrated
Bryan Danielson’s first opponent in AEW was none other than the promotion's World Champion, Kenny Omega. At AEW Dynamite: Grand Slam, both wrestlers competed in a one-on-one match that ended in a time-limit draw.
The match was really good and most people liked it. But for one fan, this match wasn’t even among Danielson’s top 10 matches and another fan said that this bout was overrated. Obviously, Dave Meltzer would aggressively disagree with those opinions.
8 He Is Overrated
It’s very rare for someone to be a public figure and not receive this sort of criticism. Oftentimes, these opinions are vaguely written and don’t make much sense.
Reddit user Helzing gave their honest opinion and called him overrated. They also said that they never liked him but didn’t state any of their reasons. This is certainly a hot take if there ever was one, as Danielson is generally regarded as one of the most beloved performers in the business.
7 He Can’t Do Serious Promos
Not only is he a terrific wrestler, but he’s also equally great on the microphone, working live audiences like a fiddle. That’s a popular opinion and everyone would agree with it.
But on r/SquaredCircle, one user claimed that Danielson can’t do serious promos. The reason: He always smiles and can’t seem to keep a straight face. It's difficult to agree with this opinion, as Danielson has cut multiple emotionally charge and serious promos over the course of his illustrious career.
6 Bryan In 2014 Was The Same As John Cena
Bryan Danielson’s run in WWE was filled with ups and downs. But eventually, he became a fan-favorite and it was this support from the people that forced WWE to change their WrestleMania plans in 2014.
Danielson was an underdog and overcame the odds on many occasions. One fan compared his 2014 run with John Cena’s character and said they were the same. This was only because of how both wrestlers used to overcome obstacles every time.
5 Johnny Gargano Is A Better Underdog Than Him
It’s really difficult to compare two wrestlers because their circumstances are often different. One fan tried to compare Gargano’s character with Danielson and said that he is a better underdog than him.
But their stories were very different. One was fighting a battle with himself, while the other challenged the system. There is no doubt that Gargano is phenomenal as the underdog babyface, but he and Danielson were rarely in similar storylines for this to be an accurate comparison.
4 He Shouldn’t Have Won At WrestleMania 30
WWE originally wanted Batista and Randy Orton to main event WrestleMania 30. But WWE fans forced them to add Danielson to the mix as well. He ended up winning the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at the pay-per-view, in what is considered one of the greatest WrestleMania moments of all time.
Most fans really liked this storyline. But one fan said that they found Danielson boring and that Batista should’ve won at WrestleMania 30 instead.
3 He Is A Horrible Babyface
Danielson is really good at playing characters, whether it’s a good guy or a bad guy. But u/TheGame81677 said that he’s horrible at playing a babyface role. This fan also hated the “Yes Movement” in WWE.
But it was this underdog babyface run that made him one of the most popular superstars in WWE. Also, this fan thinks that he doesn’t do anything special in the ring. This opinion felt more like one designed to get a reaction, as opposed to one that was actually supported by any evidence or true conviction.
2 The Rise Of Bryan Danielson Killed Wrestling For One Fan
While most fans liked Danielson's rise in WWE, some of the older fans from the Attitude Era or the Ruthless Aggression Era didn’t understand him at all.
One fan said that Danielson's 2014 run killed their love for wrestling that had spanned over two decades. This fan also criticized his repeated kicks to the chest spot. While some of their points made sense, still, they go against popular opinion as his rise to the top was one of the greatest stories WWE ever told.
1 His Crew Cut With Ponytail Looks Lame
Bryan Danielson currently sports a ponytail crewcut look. While most fans think that his current look makes him look a lot younger, one fan thinks it’s really lame.
But most fans don’t think the same. They really like this look for him and would prefer it over some of the other hairstyles Danielson has had over the years. Especially compared to the shaggy hair and messy beard he once had, this look is far more modern and appealing to casual fans.